I have to say I have been privileged to have met some amazing people in my life. This past week was no exception. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Ambassador Hilario G. Davide, Jr., the Philippines Ambassador to the UN. As usual for me, I find myself in these situations silently asking myself, […]

This is a week of reflection for me going back in memory to the summer of 1974. I’ve waited thirty-five years to tell this story linking historic American political events, my proximity to them, and a great American woman, Katharine Graham. Known by year-round residents as simply the “Island,” the high-end real estate on Martha’s Vineyard’s was happliy […]

Things you have to do to get all the way to Africa and back.   I have at certain times  accumualted  a sizeable amount of Northwest/KLM World Perks frequent flyer miles.  Sometimes those miles can get me about halfway through my trip to Africa and back (that’s been termed “Halfrica”).  The only direct flights from […]

Let me introduce you to John Matthew.  John Matthew ni sauti yangu = my voice in Swahili.  John has been an interpeter for me and many, many other Americans who have come to Sakila for many years.  If you have ever had to use an interpeter you know that they are more valuable than words can express.  […]

First of all…….To those of you who know Eliudi’s wife, Mama Helen, please pray.  She is very ill and in the hospital. (We NEED to get the new hospital built!) A huge thanks to all the great people that I met in South Africa.  I am tempted to start naming all of them ( and I […]

I’m checking in to let everyone know that I’ve been in PA for the long holiday weekend; my family held its annual summer reunion over the Fourth of July. Has anyone ever heard of “Revolutionary War Re-enactments”? Two of my brothers-in-law, Robert Scordia & Paul Beck, are members of the GLOVER’S MARBLEHEAD REGIMENT. Over the weekend […]

Does this make me the Village Voice?   Sitting in Sakila in the late afternoon with Kilimanjaro behind me and the villagers gathered for the afternoon “kahawa” (coffee) time in front of me. I can hear them laughing and joking, talking about the news of the day and getting ready to then go home to dinner.  A great time […]

This is a phrase that’s been part of my conversations for a number of years. I’ve been blessed to have known a number of “great” people classed so according to my defintion of greatness; one singular individual from my personal coterie has been classified as “great and influential” by secular pollsters but the others have […]

From this picture you can’t see the road, but it is there.  This the road from the Kilimanjaro Airport.  Very near the location of this picture New Hope International Hospital is being built (there will be more pictures later.)  Further up the road there is a little village Kikititi, at Kikititi you take the turn […]

How would you like to see this sight as you go for a walk in the cool of the evening?  On a clear day from the village of Sakila this is the view of Mt. Kilimanjaro.  So here is a proposal for all of you adventurous souls.  Come with me (us) to Africa and while we are […]